41 Common metals - ferrous and non-ferrous

Scrap metal dealing was one of the earliest recycling
industries. It probably began shortly after the invention of
metallurgy - about 6000 years before it became a vogue term! The
modern industry is broadly divided into:

Ferrous dealersbreaking large, mainly
low value scrap (such as structural steelwork, ships, industrial
plant, vehicle shells, and 'white goods' casings) to produce
graded material for British and overseas steel producers, and to
a lesser extent, broken cast iron for direct foundry use. Some 6
million tonnes per year (about half the new steel output) are
recycled in this way, aided by the fact that 50 per cent scrap is
necessary for the open hearth steel conversion process. Some
overseas industries (notably Brazil) are based on 100 per cent
scrap.

Refinersalthough most common non-ferrous
metals have relatively low melting points, scrap is rarely used
directly in foundries. Quality control usually demands the use of
closely specified alloys which are supplied as standard ingots by
secondary metal refiners (generally at prices around double that
of equivalent scrap).

The EU and the UK government have both set targets for recycling metals used
in packaging - see introduction to section 50 (Packaging).

COST SAVING TIP:
Using different coloured bins for different alloys enables them
to be re-melted and used again for casting.

Ferrous
and non-ferrous metal merchant and scrap dealer. Steel
stockholder of RSJs, universal beams and columns, channels and angles.
Service and delivery with crane offload as required. Technical expertise
for all fabrication, and site welding. Fourteen metre, four tonne, six
wheeled hiab for hire. Established over twenty-five years. (Updated May 2005)

Trade body aiming to provide key support services and a forum for
generating consensus on strategic issues. Guidance on legislation, health and
safety - runs training courses on, for example, the real needs of a recycling
operator, and environmental management systems. Various education
resources on recycling. Result of merger between British Secondary Metals
Association and the British Metals Federation. (Updated
Oct 2004)

The UK packaging industry, which uses 650,000 tonnes per
year of steel packaging, needs to recycle between 97.000 t (15%)
and 325,000 t (50%) by 2001. British Steel has created a
specialist unit to develop recovery and recycling. This acts as
materials organisation/reprocessor, information source and
technical advisory service.

Metals processing and recycling centre,
specialising in aluminium (including toll conversion), foil and steel cans.Also receives batteries, aerosol cans, computer hardware, and electric
cable.Serves businesses and
communities locally and nationally, from multinationals and local authorities to
small businesses.Scrap metal
collection from can banks at amenity and community waste sites.Printed circuit boards and low end computer equipment are recycled to
recover copper, other precious metals, and the boards themselves.
Materials are weighed and checked before the laboratory analyses each metal for
the best form of re-use, and to ensure quality specifications.Operates a public weighbridge.Fleet
vehicles supply nationwide collection and delivery, including a "just in
time" service.Free estimates.Website's information section includes advice, facts and graphs on
recycling of UK domestic and industrial metals.(Updated
Jan 2004)